General info

Rocky shores

There are several rocky shores inside the mouth of the estuary and those around the entrance to the estuary stretch between Lantic Bay and Gribben Head. Inside the estuary is the shore to the South of Town Quay in Fowey and leading round to Readymoney cove, and the shore below the town of Polruan.

The lack of sediment covering the rocky shores indicates an environment with strong currents and wave action, which carry the sediment away rather than allowing it to be deposited. Several studies have been conducted into the flora and fauna covering the rocky shores of the Fowey estuary and the shores of Lantic Bay to Gribben Head.

The shores show characteristic zonation found on most rocky shores. The height and width of the characteristic zones varies according to the exposure of the shore to wave action and wind and the species assemblages vary according to this.

However, Lantic Bay and the rocky shores at the Harbour entrance are relatively sheltered and the plants and animals there are similar. Lantic Bay is a small section of semi-enclosed coast that has been designated as an SAC for shore dock (Rumex rupestris), a plant thought to be one of the rarest plants in Britain (Neil et al, 2001).